Electric fence post



March 21, 1961 R. J. BELLAMY 2,976,346

ELECTRIC FENCE POST Filed Feb. 26, 1959 Russell J. Bellamy INVENTOR.

BY naw,

United States Patent 2,976,346 ELECTRIC FENCE POST Russell J. Bellamy, Drayton, N. Dak. Filed Feb. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 795,702 3 Claims. Cl. 174-158) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in electric fence posts and has for its primary object to provide a post of this character which is formed from an electrically non-conductive plastic to which the fence wire or wires may be directly secured, thus obviating the need for the usual insulators, and, in addition preventing the electrocution of wild life, particularly birds.

Another very important object of this invention is to provide an electric fence post of the aforementioned character which is such in construction that it may be expeditiouslyand firmly erected in the desired location without the use of a hammer or other driving tool.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved electric fence post of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at lost cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electric fence post constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure l; and I Figure 3 is an enlarged view in horizontal section, taken substantially upon the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a rigid substantially A-shaped frame providing a base designated generally by reference numeral 4. The base 4 includes a one piece frame or unit which may be economically struck from a sheet or plate of any suitable metal. Mounted on the apex of the base 4 is an upstanding shaft or rod 5 of a suitable electrically nonconductive plastic. Of course, the base 4 and the rod 5 may be of any desired dimensions. The rod 5 is of circular cross-section.

The base 4, in the embodiment shown, comprises a pair of angular ground penetrating legs 6 which terminate at their lower ends in points 7 to facilitate penetration. Extending between the angles of the legs 6 is a combination brace and foot bar 8 through the medium of which said legs may be readily forced into the ground. Rising from the top or apex of the base 4 is an apertured tang 9 which is secured by bolts 10 in a socket 11 provided therefor in the lower end portion of the rod 5, said bolts having threaded thereon retaining nuts 12.

The rod 5 has formed therein at vertically spaced points circumferential grooves or channels 13 in which the electric fence wire or wires 14 are selectively engageable for adjustably mounting said wires on the post. The grooves 13 also receive tie wires 15 which secure the conductor wires 14 in position on the rod 5.

It is thought that the invention will be readily understood from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, while holding the rod 5 in the hands, the user places a foot on the bar 8 in the upper portion of the base or A-frame 4 and forces the pointed legs 6 downwardly into the ground in an obvious manner. The wires 14 are then secured in the desired position on the rod 5 all through the medium of the ties 15 and the installation is complete. The grooves 13 positively retain the wires 14 against vertical movement on the rod 5. The rod 5, being of non-conducting plastic, permits the wires 14 to be secured directly to said rod, rendering unnecessary the usual insulators. Also, birds perched on the wires 14 may contact the post without being electrocuted. If desired, the rod 5 may be attractively colored.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An electric fence post comprising: a substantially A-shaped frame providing a base having a pair of angular ground penetrating legs, and a rod of an electrically nonconductive plastic material mounted vertically on the base, said base further including an integral, upstanding tang on its upper apical end secured in the lower end portion of the rod, said 'base also including a foot bar extending at right angles to and between median portions of the angles of the legs and adapted for forcing said legs into the ground.

2. An electric fence post comprising, in combination, a rigid A-shaped flat faced frame providing a base and including ground penetrating legs and also a horizontal cross-piece rigidly joining median portions of said legs and through the medium of which a user may forcibly press said legs into the ground for anchorage, and a vertically elongated rigid rod made of plastic material having the desired insulating properties, the lower end of said rod being rigidly joined to the upper portion of said A-shaped frame, said rod constituting a fence post and being provided around its surface with spaced equidistant grooves of suflicient depth to permit portions of fence wires and accommodating tie wires to be securely attached to said post.

3. An electric fence post comprising a one-piece frame generally A-shaped in side elevation and embodying side members having upper portions converging and joined to an upstanding tang, the median and lower portions of said legs being coplanar and parallel and providing ground penetrating and anchoring prongs, a crosspiece at right angles to the median portions and joined at its ends to inner edges of the legs and providing a triangular top portion constituting a stirrup-like foot accommodating brace, and a vertically elongated rigid rod made of plastic material providing required electric current insulating properties, the lower end of said rod being rigidly joined to said upstanding tang, said rod constituting a fence post and being provided around its peripheral surface with longitudinally spaced grooves of sufficient depth to permit portions of fence wires and accommodating tie wires to be securely attached to said post, the lower end of said rod having an axial socket and said tang telescoping into and being secured in said socket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 120,763 Moore Nov. 7, 1871 206,624 Shoemaker July 30, 1878 356,517 Wilson Jan. 25, 1887 383,222 Guile May 22, 1888 443,622 Amos Dec. 30, 1890 1,479,291 Evans Ian. 1, 1924 2,066,803 Sawyer Ian. 5, 1937 2,264,493 Werning Dec. 2, 1941 2,821,365 Lach -2... Ian. 28, 1958 

